Hello Reader,

We know you’re always looking for your next good read, so we have some great recommendations.

Every month, you’ll receive team CGF’s top picks of books to help you improve your finances, advance your career, practice self-care, or get lost in a fantasy world.

Here is our list of October book recommendations!

• Note: This book list contains affiliate links from Amazon. Clever Girl Finance is an Amazon Associate, which means we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. These commissions help us grow!
• We also encourage you to support your local independent booksellers! You can search by your location here.

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Finance pick: Money Honey: A Simple 7-Step Guide for Getting Your Financial Ish Together

Question for you: How long have you been putting off creating a budget? What about your plan to pay off debt?

If your answers are sometimes similar to, it's been a while or you're going to get to it, this is your sign to start focusing on your finances. We get it, knowing and doing are two different things. Managing your money can feel overwhelming, time-consuming, and like someone is squeezing your insides every time you check your bank account.

So yes, it’s understandable if you’re a bit of a hot mess with your finances. However, it’s important to get a handle on things sooner rather than later. Fortunately, help is out there.

Rachel Richards, a former financial advisor, wrote Money Honey: A Simple 7-Step Guide for Getting Your Financial Ish Together to help you figure out the confusing and intimidating aspects of money. Her book infuses financial lessons with humor, so you can become financially free.

No matter your financial focus, saving for retirement, improving your credit score, or increasing your income, Rachel will guide you through seven simple steps to get your finances together.

No more excuses. Get this book, start seeing real results, and live the life you’ve always wanted.

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Self-help pick: If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For

Laughter can be the best medicine, or a way to mask your pain.

Author Molly Stillman thought she could escape her pain and guilt through humor and shopping. It all started when Molly’s mom passed away when she was 17 years old. After losing someone she admired and loved, she found herself in good fortune when she inherited a quarter of a million dollars on her 21st birthday.

Yet it didn’t take long for Molly to burn through her inheritance with her shopping addictions, a series of poor financial decisions, and to end up with over $30,000 in credit card debt.

In a desperate attempt to cope, Molly leaned into her career in comedy to mask her grief and disappointment. While she made others laugh, her pain didn’t subside, and she felt more alone than ever. She spent years in depression, yet eventually found a way to change her life.

With help from her church, her spreadsheet-loving man who became her husband, and a compassionate credit counselor, Molly was able to see the light at the end of her despair.

If you’re in a dark place right now, and no amount of spending or eating seems to make your pain go away, know that you’re not alone. If I don't laugh, I'll cry is proof that no matter how messy your life is or no matter how tragic your past, you can always make a change and recreate your life for the better.

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Fiction pick: Hello Beautiful: A Novel by Ann Napolitano

A story of new beginnings and a haunting past. William Waters had a lonely childhood in a household where his parents barely acknowledged his existence. Luckily, he escaped his tragic life by going to college, where he not only made new friends but also met a love interest, Julia Padavano. A once gloomy life is now vibrant and filled with joy. ​Unfortunately, William's happiness with his new life is short-lived. His past comes back to haunt him and tests his new friendships. Will his past jeopardize his present and future?

If you've ever had to deal with a difficult past, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano will captivate you and remind you of the importance of forgiveness and unconditional love.

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Business pick: Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business

You’ve been wanting to start a business for months. Yet instead of taking action, you make excuses, saying you don’t have the time or that it’s too complicated. Despite your hesitation, something inside you keeps telling you that one day you’re going to make it happen.

If you’re ready to turn your ideas into cash but don’t know how to take the first step, we have something for you.

With the book Starting a Business: A Quickstart Guide, by Ken Colwell, you’ll get a step-by-step blueprint to transform your idea into a thriving venture. Whether you’re new to entrepreneurship or an experienced business owner ready to level up, this guide breaks it all down with practical advice on how to:

• Spot the difference between a passing dream and a real opportunity.
• Master the essentials, from pricing and branding to marketing and growth.
• Identify your ideal audience and create products or services they truly value.
• Develop a strong entrepreneurial mindset and craft a powerful value proposition.
• Build a clear roadmap for success (yes, your business plan).

Written by an accomplished entrepreneur, this guide is trusted by college programs and recommended by business owners at every stage of their journey.

Don’t let another year pass you by. Grab your copy today and start building the business you’ve been dreaming about.

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Personal development pick: No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline

Let’s be honest, we all make excuses. We haven’t gone to the gym because we don’t have time. We’re still paying off debt because we don’t make enough money. Excuses are endless, and often the reason we haven’t progressed toward our goals. Yet if we were honest with ourselves, we’d admit that while some excuses are valid, the real reason we feel behind is our lack of self-discipline.

If you want to stop the vicious cycle of starting something and then making excuses not to finish, the book No Excuses by Brian Tracy will help you do just that.

Don’t worry, this book isn’t here to shame you for what you’ve been doing wrong. Instead, each chapter includes exercises to help you apply the “no excuses” method to your life.

No more waiting for things to change. Put yourself in the driver’s seat, read this book, and stop making excuses for good.

Cozy up this fall with a great read!

With temperatures cooling and the year coming to an end, now is the perfect time to start reading a new book. You never know which read will help you transform your life, or simply give you a sense of peace and security in a chaotic world.

Let us know which book you're going to dive into.

Don’t forget, you can stay motivated and learn other financial tips and tricks from our completely free financial courses and worksheets.

Happy reading! ❤️
Team CGF

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